Spring assembling machine



NOV. 18, J, A D CK Y SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet l .zW/fK am lam na/Minn 9 4%.

NMQ

Nov. '18, 1941. J, A. DICKEY SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1940 g hm 110ml. 0mm

Nov. 18, 1941. J, A, DICKEY 2,262,994

SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet s Q 72 a I I i Q Nov. 18, 1941. J. A. DICKEY SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 18, 1941. J. A. DICKEY SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 18, 1941. J. A. DICKEY SPRING ASSEMBLING- MACHINE Filed July 5, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 JM/vnm Jam #40 4 WM;

Patented Nov. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Jonathan A. Dickey, Memphis, Tenn.

Application July 5, 1940, Serial No. 344,064

16 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for assembling and connecting spring coils employed in the manufacture of spring assemblies of units for beds, cushions, mattresses and the like.

In a known type of spring assembly, spiral hour glass coils are disposed in upright position in longitudinal and transverse rows with the individual coils in upright position, the longitudinal rows being spaced apartand the transverse rows being disposed in such relation that the edges of the top and bottom heads of the coils abut, or overlie in abutting relation, the top and bottom heads respectively of the adjacent coils. These abutting edges are tied together by continuous wire helicals which extend across the spring assembly and are threaded around the abutting edges of the coil heads.

The coils used have been of two slightly differing types, one of these having circular top and bottom convolutions, and the other having outwardly crimped and straight abutting portions on opposite sides of these coils, which permit the use of a smaller diameter helical and effect a more stable connection of the coils.

The helicals are threaded through either by hand or by machine. Hand threading is slow and laborious, the helicals being formed, out to length and rotated into place by hand, but it is readily possible to use the crimped edge coils and by hand adjustment effect proper alinement and positioning of these portions, to permit threading through of the helicals. Even so, however, full advantage cannot be taken of the desired reduction in helical diameter except at the expense of undue slowing down of the work.

Machine threading is much more rapid and is at present very generally practiced. These machines line up coils, usually placed by hand, and thread through the coil joining helicals mechanically and with great rapidity, the helicals often being formed and threaded into place in the same operation and then automatically cut the helicals on as threading is completed, and many of the fkfeatures of these machines are here employed.

Diillculty has however been had in properly positioning the abutting coil heads and so far as is known it has not been found feasible to position overlying or edge abutting positions of crimped edge coils and successfully mechanically thread helicals through, and the successful machines have been obliged to fall back on the circular top and bottom coils and make use of the loosely contacted joints by them affected.

The objects of this invention are:

To provide means for alining and positioning abutting edges of spring coils in definite relation to facilitate the threading therearound of a joining helical.

To provide means for alining and positioning rows of head abutting coils.

To provide means for advancing rows of coils which is adapted to facilitate the placing of successive rows of the coils.

To provide means for contacting overlapping and abutting head portions of coils to permit threading of helicals therearound.

To provide means for releasing each helically joined row of coil edge portions to permit movement thereof away from joining position and shifting of the next successive row into position for threading.

To provide means for cutting off each helical as threading is completed therefor and so timing such cut-off as to insure completion of threading prior to cut-off.

To provide means for coordinating the shifting of the coils, threading of the helicals, and shifting of the coils thereafter.

To provide means for coordinating the advancement and stopping of the coils, the threading of the helicals around the coil edges and the cut-off of the helicals.

To provide means for coordinating the forming, threading, stopping and cut-off of the helicals, with the stoppage or the dwell portion of the coil movement, and the stoppage of forming of the helical during movement of the coils.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the machine showing five only of the longitudinal rows of coils, the machine being partially broken away to avoid duplication of the usual nine or more rows employed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the machine taken as on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1 showing the timing cam and related actuated switches.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the opposite or drive side of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken as on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1 and looking in the same direction as Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan taken as on the line V-V of Fig. 4, showing the coil conveyor lineups.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan, taken on the same line as Fig. 5, showing links of one 4 pair of coil conveyors with the guides and supporting plates therefor and a portion of the helical channel.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the same conveyor with a portion of one link shown in section on the line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan showing fragmentary portions of two of the conveyors with coils in place and a fragmentary view of the helical feed-in and cut-ofi mechanism, the view being on the same scale as Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation taken on the line IX-JX of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken as on the line x-x of Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken on the same line as Fig. 10 showing retraction of a hellcal guide-channel.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section taken as on the line XII-XII of Fig. 1 looking in the opposite direction to Fig. 4.

Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line XIII- XIII of Fig. 12, showing the helical feed-in and cut-off mechanism, and switches.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing one of the cut-off switches.

Fig. 15 is a view of the helical coils looking in the direction of the arrow XV of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged side elevation of the main timing cam and associated switch mechanisms.

Fig. '17 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals:

The coils l3 which are to be secured together to form the spring assembly are of the usual hour glass form terminating in flat top and bottom heads H with the ends of the wire wrapped one or more times around the head convolutions forming completing knots H which are effective as positioning shoulders on these heads, the knot of the upper head being on the same side of the coil as the knot of the lower head. The heads also are crimped front and back to provide straight portions l3, l4 with end shoulders l5, which shoulders are adapted to pass through and lie between the turns of the helicals and restrict turning or shifting movement of the coil heads with respect to the helicals, the straight portions I3, i4 of the crimps being of unequal length to provide for their differing positions'with reference to the helical turns and permit threading of smaller diameter helicals.

The machine includes a base 20, a top 2|, and side walls 22, 23, connecting, and secured-to the base and top forming a rectangular structure open both front and back.

Extending horizontally from side wall to side wall are four shafts 24, 25, 26 and 21 which are journa'led in suitable bearings on these walls and which are provided with suitable collars preventing end thrust. Mounted on these shafts are groups of sprocket wheels in pairs, 30, 3|; 32, 33; 34, 35; and, 36, 31 respectively, these sprocket wheels being keyed to the shafts, preferably by keys 4'), which engage keyways 4| extending substantially throughout the lengths of the shafts between bearings, each keyway and its related keys providing means to definitely aline and coordinate the movement of all of the sprocket wheels on such shaft. The sprockets 30', 3| of shaft 24 respectively aline along the shaft with the sprockets 32, 33 of shaft 25, the sprockets 34, 35 of shaft 26, and the sprockets 36, 31 of shaft 21.

All sprocket wheels have the same number of fiat faces, and teeth, preferably six. The sprockets 36, 32, and the sprockets 33, 34 carry upper and lower conveyor chains 42, 43 respectively, these chains having a pitch conforming to the faces of the wheels, and the remaining four sprockets of the group carry complementary upper and complementary lower chains 44, 45, the sprockets 30, 32 being respectively spaced along their shafts from the sprockets 33, 34 to aline the conveyor chains 42, 43 with the side edges of the upper and lower heads |2 of the coils to be handled, and the group spacings conforming to the desired longitudinal row spacing of the coils. The complementary chains each comprise link members 46 (Fig. 6 showing the lower set) coupled together by short side bars 41 and pins 46 of a. standard form. The link members of one chain have arcuate grooves 43 conforming in arcuate radius to the radius of the top (or bottom) heads of the coils, the width and depth of the grooves conforming to the diameter of the wire of which the coil is formed. The link members of the complementary chain have similar arcuate grooves 50 which terminate adjacent the center of the member, at portions 5|, which are of a depth substantially twice the wire diameter. These portions are shaped to receive the closing portion of the coil convolutions, and may be formed by cutting the top of the link away from the inner sidevleaving a shoulder 52 along the outer edge shaped to abut such closing portion. This wall is cut through at 53 to receive the knot l2. A pin 54 holds the coil portion A against the wall 52 and prevents shift of the coil along the groove. The top of the pin is beveled or shortened to permit coil portion IE to clear.

The center portions of the member-linking bars 41 are of such depth relatively to link thickness that they do not extend above the bottoms of the pockets 5|, and the end portions of the members 46 are beveled to provide approach slopes to this reduced depth.

The lower flights of the upper conveyors and the upper flights of the lower conveyors constitute the working portions of these structures, these upper and lower flights respectively underlying and overlying tables 55, and 56, respectively, against which the conveyor flights slide.

These tables extend between and are rigidly secured at their ends to the side walls 22 and 23. Each table comprises two portions which are spaced apart to provide a slot which extends from side wall to side wall, these slots being adapted to receive helical guiding channel members 58, 59 respectively, hereinafter called helical guides, which are adapted to guide helicals 60, 6| across the machine. Secured on the tables on opposite sides of each of the conveyor flights are longitudinally disposed bars 62, 63 which form guide-ways for the flights, these bars likewise being interrupted for the helical guides.

The sprocket shaft 24 extends through the side wall 22 (Fig. 3) and has keyed thereon a ratchet wheel 64, which ratchet has the same number of teeth as the sprocket wheel has faces. The ratchet wheel is engaged by a pawl carried by a swinging arm 66, which is connected by a link 61 to a crank pin 63 on a worm gear 63. The worm gear 63 is mounted on and keyed to a cam shaft 10 which extends transversely across the machine frame and is journalled in suitable bearings in the side walls 22 and 23. The worm gear is driven by a motor 1| as through pulleys 12, 13, a belt 14, shaft 15 and worm 16. The shaft 24, through spur gears 11 and idlers 18 drives the shaft 26 in opposite direction at the same speed.

The helical guides 58 and 58 comprise bars, designated by the same number, disposed transversely across the machine and having their respective upper and lower edges slidably disposed through the slots between the portions of the tables 55, and 56 respectively. These bars respectively have along their lower and upper edges channels 88, 8I conforming in width and depth to the diameter of the helical to be guided thereby. Preferably the bars are of a thickness slightly exceeding the diameter of the helicals and the channels are formed by placing side plates 82, 83 along the sides of the bars, these plates extending below or above the edges thereof, as the case may be, sufllcient distances to provide the proper depth of channel. Disposed in the bottoms of the channels are pins 84 which are spaced at intervals conforming to the pitch of the helical to be used, and serve to longitudinally position the helical coils. The pins project from the bottoms of the channels slightly more than the diameter of the helical wire and serve to hold the straight portions I3, I4, of the coil crimps away from the channel bottom to permit threading through of the helicals. The facing edge portions of the helical guides 58, 58 including both bar and side plates 82, 83 are transversely notched to provide clearance openings 85 which allow the passage of the conveyor flight chains 42, 43; 44 and 45, and additionally the side plates 82, and 83 have shorter and shallower notches 86, 81 respectively (Figs. 6 and 9) which are adapted to receive and anchor the shoulders I of the coil head crimps.

Cooperating with the helical guides 58 and 58 are clamps 88 and 8| respectively which have arm portions 82, 83 hingedly connected as through brackets 84, 85 to the tables 55, 56 respectively. Each clamp 88 cooperates with the upper chain 44 for one longitudinal row of coils and the adjacent upper chain 42 for the next row of coils, and similarly the clamp 8| cooperates with the lower chains 45 and 43 for the same rows of coils. At the two opposite sides of the machine, halved clamps 98-A, 8I--A; 88--B, 8IB are used.

Each of the clamps is transversely grooved in alinement with the helical guides to permit the helical guide complementary thereto, to extend beyond the surface of the chains and allow the clamp to lie flat both against the surface of the chains and the top of the guide. Each clamp when in closed position, as the clamp 8I-C shown in Fig. 8, hold arcuate side portions of the abutting heads II-A, II-B of two coils of one longitudinal row, and arcuate side portions of the abutting heads IIC, IID of two coils in an adjacent longitudinal row, solidly seated in the arcuate grooves of the links of the conveyor chains 43-A, 45-A respectively; hold down of the head portions II-A, II-B respectively holding the knots I2-A, I2-B of their heads in the wall cuts 53 of the links and the heads themselves against shifting, and definitely alines and positions the straight portions I3, I4 of the crimps and the shoulders thereof in a complementary portion of the channel of the related helical guide. The clamp also closes the top of this channel and completes a square guideway through which the helical is to be threaded.

The helical guides 58, 58 are retractable (Fig. 11) so that they clear the facing surfaces of the tables-55 and 56 and permit free advancement of the spring coils therealong. The helical guide 58 is urged toward retracted position by springs 86 and the helical guide 58 may similarly be so urged or may be allowed to drop by gravity.

81 are brackets which guide the sides of the helical guides 58 and 58 and if desired may limit the amount of their retraction. Contacting the outer edges of the helical guides are rollers 88 which are carried by arms 88, these arms being secured as by keys to shafts I88, I8I which are journalled in suitable hearings in the side walls 22, 23, these shafts projecting as through the side wall 22, and being linked together for coordinated oscillating movements in opposite directions by arms I82, and a link I83. Mounted on one of the shafts, as the shaft IN, and secured thereto is an arm I84, carrying at one end a roller I85 which rides on the face of a cam I86 which is keyed on the cam shaft 18 for coordinated movement therewith. The cam I86 is adapted to hold the helical guides in guiding position during substantially one-half of a revolution of the cam shaft and to allow them to be retracted during the remaining portion of the period.

The clamps 88 and 8| are adapted to be moved into helical guide engagement during the positioned period of the helical guides. The arms 82, 83 of these clamps are connected by links I81, I 88, with arms I88, II8, which are mounted on and secured to shafts II I, I I2, respectively, these shafts extending from side to side of the machine and being journalled in the side walls 22 and 23, both shafts extending through the wall 22 and being connected by arms II3, II 4 and a link II5 for coordinated oscillation in opposite directions. One of the shafts, as the shaft I I2, has secured thereon an arm I I6 carrying a roller II1, which rolls on the face of a cam II8 secured on the cam shaft 18, this cam having a face portion adapted to hold the clamps in closed position during substantially half the cam revolution and an additional portion adapted to allow retraction of the clamps during the remaining portion of the period. The clamps are urged towards open position as by springs I I 8.

Disposed adjacent corresponding ends of the helical guides 58, 59 and carried by the table 56 and side wall 22 are tilting type mercury switches I28 I2I, the switch I2I (Fig. 10) having a cam plate I22 adapted for displacement bv end thrust of the helical 6| and the switch I28 having a similar cam plate I23 displaceable by end thrust of the helical 68.

Mounted on the opposite side wall 23 and alined with the opposite ends of the channels 58, 58 are guide tubes I25, I28. Alined with the tubes I25, I26 are helical forming head I21, I28 of a well known type forming part of a helical forming and threading machine I28 which is secured to the wall 23 of the machine.

Wires I38, I3I are forced by pairs of rol s I32, I33 respectively through the forming heads I21, I28 and emerge in well known manner as the spirally advancing helicals 68, 6I. The rolls I32 and I33 are driven through suitable shafts and gearing and respectively related clutches I34 and I35 and a sprocket chain I36 by a motor I31. The clutches I34 and I35 are respectively engaged by energization of solenoids I38 and I38 biased to hold the clutches open.

Disposed between the inner ends of the tubes I25 and I 26 and the ends of the helical guides 58, 58 is a helical cut-off which is adapted to sever the helicals 68, 8| after they have been threaded through the machine and have respectively joined together the upper and lower heads of abutting coils. This cut-off includes upper and lower frame members I48, I which are respectively secured to the tables 55 and 56. These frame members respectively have passageways therethrough for the helicals 68 and 6|. Each frame member carries a'fixed cut-oil knife, as the knife I42, of the frame member I48, these knives being substantially united and projecting downward with their cutting edges adjacent the bottoms of the helicals, as the helical 68, which is shown threaded therepast. Slidably mounted in the fr: "ne members is a vertically disposed cutter bar I4. which carries identical movable knive I44, I45 which are adapted to cooperate with the fixed knives, as the knife I44 with the knife I42, and cut off the helicals when the bar I43, and the movable knives carried thereby, is raised. The cutter bar I43 extends above the frame I48 and is pin secured to an arm I46 (Fig. 2), one end of the arm being supported by a thrust member I41 connected as by pins I48, I48 to the frame I48 and arm I46 respectively. The free end of the arm I46 is connected as by a link I58 to the plunger I5I of a solenoid I52, energization of the solenoid raising the end of the arm I46 and through this arm raising the bar I43 and the knives I44 and I45 carried thereby. Retraction of the arm is accomplished by a spring I53.

Figs. 2 and 16 show a timing cam I68 mounted on the shaft 18, a casing I6I, housing a switch which makes and breaks a circuit controlling the starting and stopping of the helical forming and feeding mechanism; a casing I62 housing a switch making and breaking the helical cut-off circuit, and a casing I63 housing a switch which makes and breaks an auxiliary circuit to the motor 1I, these switches being designated in Fig. 17 by these casing members. I64 i an arm carrying a roller I65 riding on the face of the cam I68 through which the switch I6I is closed when the roller rides outward at the rise I68-A of the cam and is opened when the roller moves inward at the fall I68--B of the cam, the switch being closed between the rise and fall and open between the fall and rise, each period being approximately one-half the turn of the cam. The switch I63 is provided with a similar arm I66 and roller I61 which similarly actuates the switch I63. The switch I62 has a similar arm I68 and roller I 69. This arm, however, is actuated by a pin I18 which momentarily shifts the roller I68 outward to close the switch I62 and actuate the helical cutoff knives, and thereafter lets it drop inward to again open the switch and break the circuit. All of the switches I6I, I62 and I63 are biased open.

The circuits for the motor II, the solenoid I52 which actuate the cut-off mechanism and the solenoids I38 and I39 which actuate the helical feed is shown in Fig. 1'7. I15 is the line switch through which themotor H is started and I16 an emergency switch through which the operator can kill the motor circuit in emergency, or otherwise. I11 is a main lead from switch I15 through branch lead I11--A to motor 1|; I11-B, I11--C to helical actuating solenoids I38 and I38; I11-D to helical cut-oif solenoids I52; and I11E, I11F to relays I18, and I18, which actuate double throw switches I88, I8I, having each two sets of contacts. The solenoids I38, I38 are connected through parallel return leads I82, I83 respectively with the A contacts of switches I88, I8I, and thence through joint return leads I84,

I85 to the power switch I15. The B contacts of switches I88, I8I are interposed in series in the return lead I66-A, B, C. and D and leads I84, I85 to the switch I15.

Circuits through relays I18, I18 are respectively completed by parallel leads I81, I88 through switches I2I, I28, through a Joint lead I88, switch I6I and lead I85 to the power switch return lead I88. The solenoids I52 include switch I62 and is completed through leads I84, I85. An auxiliary return lead for the motor1I includes the return leads I86, I86-A, lead I8I, the switch I63 and the return leads I84, I 85.

In starting operation, the line switch I15 is closed energizing and starting the motor H and tending to establish circuits to the helical feeding solenoids I38, I39 and the helical cut-off solenoid I52. The motor 1I through the belt driven worm 16 turns the gear 68 in the direction of the arrows shown thereon in Fig. 3, and drives the cam shaft 18 in the same direction. Through the link 61 and arm 66 the pin 68 on the gear 63 advances and retracts the pawl 65 advancing the ratchet wheel 64 during the advance half of the stroke but leaving it stationary during the return stroke. Movement of the ratchet wheel 64 similarly turns the shaft 24 and through the idler gears 18 oppositely turns the shaft 26, these shafts respectively correspondingly moving the groups of sprocket wheels 38, 3|; 34, 35; and corresponding groups of conveyor chains 42, 43; 44, 45; the conveyor chains advancing during the forward half stroke and remaining motionless during the pawl retraction half stroke.

During a stationary or dwell period all the coils I8 needed to make up a transverse row of coils of the spring assembly are placed in the transversely alined row of links lying between the shafts 25 and 21. The side edges of the top and bottom heads I-I being seated in the grooves 48, 58 of the conveyor chain links with the positioning knots I2 in the link pockets formed therefor and against the pins 54, this definitely positioning the straight forward and rearward portions I2, I4 of the head crimps, and this regardless of any twist initially of one head in regard to the other. During the succeeding half turn this row of coils is advanced one link space and a second row placed during the next dwell period of a cycle. As the fifth row of coils is being placed the rear edge portions I4 of the top and bottom heads of the first placed row of coils and the lapping forward edge portions I3 of the next placed row of coils are alined with the helical guides 58 and 59.

As. the edge portions of the coil heads approach alinement with the helical guides 58, 58 the rise portion of the cam I86 engages the roller I85, and through the connected linkages depress and raise the helical guides 58, 58 respectively, into such position that the overlapping head crimp portions I 3, I4 lie in the helical channels and against the pins 84 of such channels. At the same time the approach portion of the cam lI8 engages the roller H1 and through the interconnected linkage moves the clamps into position against the open helical channels and also into position to solidly hold side portions of the coil heads in the grooves of the chains, and the crimps in the helical channels.

Shortly after the motor H is started the motor I31 which drives the helical formers is also started. As the helical channels and clamps are moved into operative position by their respective cams, the cam I68 on the same cam shaft is timed to advance its approach portion I68A into engagement with the roller I85 of switch "I closing this switch, as shown in Fig. 17, and establishing circuits through leads I11--A, I11-E, relay I18, leads I88 and switch I20 to joint lead I80, and through leads I11-A, I11E, I11-F. relay I18, lead I81, switch HI and lead I81-A to joint lead I80, thence through switch I8I and lead I85, energizing these relays and bridging the A contacts of the switches I80 and I8I. The circuits completed through these switches, solenoid I38, leads I11B, I82, I84 and I85, and solenoid I39, leads I11C, I83, I84, and I85, energizes these solenoids, and through the clutches I34 and I35 couples the motor I31 to drive the feed rolls I32, I33 of the helical coiler. These rolls feed the wires I30, I3I through the coiler heads I21, I28 and advance the helicals formed thereby with a spiral rotary motion through the tubes I25, I28, the channelways in the cut-ofi frames I40, I and the helical channels 58, 58 to couple the crimps of top and bottom heads of the two abutting coils together. In the spiral advancement of the helicals through the channels the pins 84 definitely position the helicals longitudinally of the channels, these pins being so positioned relatively to the crimp portions I3, I4 that the helical will first enter the longer underlying crimp portion, as in Fig. 8, and then the shorter overlying crimp I3, and in leaving the crimp will first leave the shorter and then the longer crimp. The helicals are advanced entirely across and connect an entire transverse row of abutting coil heads during a stoppage of the chain links. As the helicals emerge from the last row of coils and the ends of the helical channels, they engage the cam edges I22, I23 of the switches I20, I2I, tilting these switches into off position and breaking the circuit through these switches to the relays I18, I18, thus releasing the switches I80, I8I from the contacts A thereof, de-energizing solenoids I38, I38, and stopping the formation and advancement of the helicals. Subsequent to this stoppage the pin I10 engages the roller I88 and closes switch I82, energizing solenoid I52. This solenoid through arm I48 raises the cut-off bar I43 and the knives I44, I45 carried thereby and cuts both helicals 80 and 8|.

Shortly before cut ofl. of the helicals the roller I85 reaches the cam drop I80-B and the switch I8I is opened breaking the circuit to the mercury switches I20, I2I and the relays I18, I18 and allowing the switches I80, I8I to bridge their B contacts and reestablish the motor circuit through such contacts. During the stoppage period of the conveyors a succeeding transverse row of coils is placed in the conveyors.

Immediately following the helical cut oil, cam I08 releases the helical channels 58 and 58 and permits their retraction and cam II8 similarly releases the clamps 80,.8I and allows them to open. The gear 80, through pin 88, link 81 and pawl 85 begins advancement of the coils to new position. As this shift begins the helicals are shifted from beneath the cams I23, I22 of the switches I20, I2I and these switches again close reenergizing the relays I 18, I18 and tending to re-energize the solenoids I38 and I38 of the helical feed roll clutches.

During the operating cycle, as the cam I80 turns, the roller I81 is raised by the approach I80-A of the cam, closing the switch I83 and establishing during about one-half cycle a motor circuit through leads I11, I11-A; I88. I88-A, this circuit being established before the switch I8I is closed and the circuit through the B contacts of switches I80, I8I is broken by the energization of the relays, and the two circuits establishing continuous power to the motor during normal operation.

Should one of the helicals be slightly slower in reaching the switches I20, or I2I, the circuit through switch I83 will carry over even though one relay be energized and the circuit through the switch I8I be broken. If, however, both helicals do not reach the switches I20, I2I before the roller I81 drops and opens the switch I83, both circuits would be broken and stoppage of driving motor 1I occurs until the delayed helical reaches its cut off switch and reestablishes the motor circuit through leads I88-B, C and D. If helical delay persists, the main switch I15 is cut off until the trouble can be correc It will be understood. that in e gaging the coils, by hand, in the conveyor links, the bottom head of each coil is seated in the chain grooves of links of the lower flight, with the front crimp overlying the rear crimp of the lower coil head immediately forward thereof, the coil is then compressed ordinarily about one inch in length and the upper head is engaged in the chain grooves of the upper flight, with its forward crimp underlying the rear crimp of the upper coil head immediately forward, the coil thus placed holding solidly by reason of such compression.

It will be understood that the present machine is designed for thus overlapping the coil crimps in order that minor inequalities in the distances between crimps in any coil or coils may not defeat abutment of the crimps, a crimp spacing even a wire diameter in excess or short still making abutting engagement. however may be edge to edge rather than overlapping should it be deemed more satisfactory.

In beginning a spring assembly helicals are run through top and bottom along the forward crimps of the first row of coils finishing the first or forward edge of the assembly. When the full number of rows of coils for an assembly has been placed, a row of coils is omitted and subsequently helicals are fed through along the rear crimps, top and bottom, of the last row of coils of the assembly completing the rear edge of such assembly, and the helicals next placed complete the forward edge of the next spring assembly.

I claim:

1. Spring assembling mechanism including a plurality of substantially identical units, movably disposed along adjacent parallel paths, each said unit including an opposed pair of carriers means for holding a plurality of springs with edge portions of their opposed heads in respective abutting relation; means coordinating the positioning of said carriers along said paths to aline the abutting head portions of said springs in transverse rows and for advancing said carriers concurrently step by step an even head spacing, with dwell periods between said steps; and means alined with one position of abutting head advancement coordinated to operate during said dwell period to spirally advance helicals across all of said paths and in wrapping engagement with said alined abutting head portions.

2. Spring assembling mechanism including a plurality of substantially identical units movably disposed along adjacent parallel paths, each said unit including a spaced pair of carriers means for holding a plurality of springs with edge portions of their opposite heads in respec- The abutment tive abutting relation; means coordinating the positioning of said carriers along said paths to aline the abutting head portions of said springs in transverse rows and for advancing said carriers concurrently step by step an even head spacing, with dwell periods between said steps; means, alined with one position of abutting head advancement and coordinated to operate during said dwell period, for spirally advancing helicals across said paths and in wrapping engagement with said alined abutting upper and lower head portions respectively, means for independently stopping advancement of said helicals and means for cutting off said helicals.

3. Spring assembling mechanism including a plurality of substantially identical units movably disposed along adjacent parallel paths, each said unit including a spaced pair of carriers means for holding a plurality of springs with edge portions of their opposite heads in respective abutting relation; means coordinating the positioning of said carriers along said paths to aline the abutting head portions of said springs in transverse rows and for advancing said carriers concurrently step by step an even head spacing, with dwell periods between said steps; means, alined with one position of abutting head advancement and coordinated to operate during said dwell period, for spirally advancing helicals across said paths and in wrapping engagement with said alined abutting upper and lower head portions respectively, and means for cutting oil said helicals.

4. Spring assembling mechanism including a plurality of substantially identical units movably disposed along adjacent parallel paths, each said unit including a spaced pair of carriers means for holding a plurality of spring coils in respective upright positions with edge portions of their upper and lower heads in abutting relation; means, coordinating the positioning of said carriers along said paths to aline the abutting head portions of said coils in transverse rows, and for advancing said carriers concurrently step by step an even head spacing, with dwell periods between said steps; channel shaped helical guides, alined with one position of abutting head advancement and extending transversely across said paths, means, coordinated to operate during said dwell period, for raising and lowering said guides respectively into adjacency with the sides, and bottom and top respectively of said lower and upper head edge portions respectively, and means spirally advancing helicals through said channels and in wrapping engagement with said head portions therein, said raising and lowering means being adapted to reversely lower and raise said guides out of the path of advancement of said head portions subsequent to advancement of said helicals therethrough.

5. Spring assembling mechanism including a plurality of substantially identical spring carriers movably disposed along adjacent parallel paths, each said carrier including means for holding a plurality of spring coils in upright positions with edge portions of their upper and lower heads in abutting relation; means, coordinating the positioning of said carriers along said paths to aline the abutting head portions of said coils in transverse rows, and for advancing said carriers concurrently step by step an even head spacing, with dwell periods between said steps, channel shaped helical guides, alined with one position of abutting head advancement and extending transversely across said paths, means, coordinated to operate during said dwell period, for raising and lowering said guides respectively into adjacency with the sides, and bottom and top respectively of said lower and upper head portions respectively, means coordinated to operate during said dwell period to clamp side portions of said coil heads in said cariers, and means spirally advancing helicals throu h said channels and in wrapping engagement 31th the head portions therein, said raising an lowering means being actuated to reversely lower and raise said guides out of the path of advancement of said head portions, and said clamps to release said coil heads, subsequent to advancement of said helicals therethrough.

6. Assembling mechanism for coil springs. having tie knots and crimped heads with straight crimp portions, including a plurality of carriers movably disposed along adjacent parallel paths, each said carrier-including four conveyor chains in pairs, spaced laterally apart to receive side portions of the heads of said coils, the upper and lower chain of each pair having facing flights spaced apart to receive said coils, said chains having a pitch corresponding to the distance from crimp to crimp of said coils, the facing portions of the chain links being grooved to embed side portions of the heads of said coils, the links on one side additionally each having a pocket chambered out to receive and position a said knot, and thereby position its said head definitely with relation to said links, said pockets being positioned to aline the straight portions of said crimps at right angles to the line of said chains and in abutting relation to the crimps of adjacent chains.

7. Assembling mechanism for coil springs, having tie knots and crimped head portions, including a plurality of carriers movably disposed along adjacent parallel paths, each said carrier including four conveyor chains in pairs, spaced laterally apart to receive side portions of the heads of said coils, the upper and lower chain of each pair having facing flights spaced apart to receive said coils, said chains having a pitch corresponding to the distance from crimp to crimp of said coils, the facing portions of the chain links being grooved to embed side portions of the heads of said coils, the links on one side additionally each having a pocket chambered out to receive and position a said knot, and thereby position its said heads definitely with relation to said links, said pockets being positioned to aline the straight portions of said crimps at right angles to the line of said chains and in abutting relation to the crimps of adjacent chains, and means to transversely aline the links of the chains of said carriers and to coordinate the movement thereof.

8. Assembling mechanism for coil springs, having tie knots and crimped heads with straight crimp portions, including a plurality of carriers movably disposed along adjacent parallel paths, each said carrier including four conveyor chains in pairs, spaced laterally apart to receive side portions of the heads of said coils, the upper and lower chain of each pair having facing flights spaced apart to receive said coils, said chains having a pitch corresponding to the distance from crimp to crimp of said coils, the facing portions of the chain links being grooved to embed side portions of the heads of said coils, the links on one side additionally each having a pocket chambered out to receive and position a said knot, and thereby position its said head definitely with relation to said links, said pockets being positioned to aline the straight portions of said crimps at right angles to the line of said chains and in abutting relation to the crimps of adjacent chains, means to synchronize the alinement transversely of the links of said carriers, and the movement thereof, means to advance said carriers with a link by link movement and to alternate such movements with dwell periods, upper and lower helical guides in alinement with a position of advancement of each said pair of abutting coil crimps in succession; and means synchronized for action during said dwell period, respectively for lowering and raising said helical guides respectively into housing position with relation to said crimps, for clamping said coil heads in said links on adjacent opposite sides of said guides, for spirally advancing helicals through said guides in wrapping engagement with said crimps, for retracting said guides and for releasing said clamps.

9. In a machine for assembling and connecting parallel rows of coil springs, the combination of a frame structure, spaced bed and top plates mounted on said frame structure, means on the opposed faces of said plates for guiding rows of springs inserted between said plates, guide channels, adapted to embrace adjacent portions of the end coils of adjacent rows, disposed adjacent and crosswise of said spring guiding means, means for moving said guide channels into embracing position, means for feeding wire helicals endwise through said channels andsimultaneously rotating said helicals on their axes, means associated with said channels for guiding the coils of said helicals around the adjacent portions of said end coils, and means for removing said channels after said helical feeding therethrough.

10. In a machine for assembling and connecting parallel rows of coil springs, the combination of a frame structure spaced bed and top plates mounted on said frame structure, means on the opposed faces of said plates for guiding rows of springs inserted between said plates, guide channels, adapted to receive adjacent portions of the end coils of adjacent rows, disposed in adjacency and crosswise of said spring guiding means, means for feeding wire helicals endwise through said channels and simultaneously rotating said helicals on their axes, means associated with said channels for guiding the coils of said helicals around the adjacent portions of said end coils, and means for advancing said channels into guiding position prior to helical feed advancement and for retracting said channels subsequent to completion of such advancement.

11. In a machine for assembling and connecting parallel rows of coil springs, the combination of a frame structure, spaced bed and top plates mounted on said frame structure, means on the opposed faces of said plates for guiding rows of springs inserted between said plates, guide channels adapted to embrace adjacent portions of the end coils of adjacent rows, means for feeding wire helicals endwise through said channels and simultaneously rotating said helicals on their axes, means associated with said channels for guiding the coils of said helicals around the adjacent portions of said end coils, means for advancing said channels into embracing position, subsequent to such feeding, out of the path of said helicals and the portions of said end coils connected thereby and means for shifting the connected rows of springs laterally past said retracted channels.

12. In a machine for assembling and connecting parallel rows of coil springs, the combination of a frame structure, spaced bed and top plates mounted on said frame structure, means on the opposed faces of said plates for guiding rows of springs inserted between said plates, guide channels, adapted to embrace adjacent portions of the end coils of adjacent rows, disposed transversely to but out of the path of advancement of said coils, means for advancing said channels into embracing position, means for feeding wire helicals endwise through said channels and simultaneously rotating said helicals on their axes, means associated with said channels for guiding the coils of said helicals around the adjacent portions of said end coils, means for retracting said channels out of the path of said helicals and the portions of said and coils connected thereby, means for shifting the connected rows of springs laterally of said channel, and for advancing another row of springs for connection in the same manner to one of said previously connected rows of springs.

13. Spring assembling mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination means for supporting two parallel rows of coil springs with coil heads of one said row in respective abutting adjacency with corresponding heads of the other said row; means for shifting said rows in said relation to bring said abutting head rows respectively each into and out of helical path alinement, means for feeding wire helices respectively endwise along said paths and simultaneously rotating said helices on their axes, means for guiding said helices so as to cause the coils thereof respectively to be wrapped around the respective abutting portions of said heads, and means for shifting said guiding means into and out of the path of said row advancements respectively prior and subsequent to said helical feeding.

14. In a machine for assembling and connecting parallel rows of coil springs, which includes means for advancing parallel rows of springs in abutting relation with a step by step motion with interposed dwell periods, an electric motor for driving said machine; and electrically responsive means for concurrently advancing helicals in pairs for respectively connecting said coils; energized circuits comprising, a first motor circuit including a switch biased open, a second motor circuit by-passing said switch and including in series a pair of switches biased closed, a pair of solenoids connected respectively to said switches and adapted on energization to open same, a pair of third circuits in parallel including respectively each a said switch biased open and adapted for closure by a said solenoid, said circuits leading respectively each to a said helical advancing means, and a pair of fourth circuits, having a joint lead including a closure switch biased open, and leading in parallel respectively through said solenoids, said fourth circuits including each a trip switch biased closed, said trip switches respectively being positioned and adapted for opening by completion of respective helical advancements; and a timing cam driven by said motor and coordinated with said step by step movement of said machine, said cam having a switchclosing portion and a switch release portion, each of substantially degrees, said first circuit switch and said fourth circuit closure switch being positioned respectively for successive opening and successive closing, with said fourth circuit closure timed to occur shortly subsequent to the beginning of said dwell period.

15. A mechanism in accordance with claim 14 including a helical cut-of! mechanism, adapted to cut off said helicals, an actuating solenoid for such cut-oif, a circuit, including a switch biased open, leading through said solenoid, and means carried by said timing cam, for closing said switch momentarily, said switch being positioned for actuation by said cam immediately subsequent to cessation of helical advancement.

16. In a machine for assembling and connecting parallel rows of coil springs, which includes means for advancing parallel rows of springs in abutting relation with a step by step motion with interposed dwell periods, anelectric motor for driving said machine; and electrically responsive means for concurrently advancing helicals in pairs for respectively connecting said coils; energized circuits comprising, a first motor circuit including a switch biased open, a second motor circuit by-passing said switch and including in series a pair of switches biased closed and a pair oi second electrically responsive means connected respectively to said switches and adapted on energization to open same, a pair of third circuits in parallel including respectively each a said switch biased open and adapted for closure by a said second electrically responsive means, said circuits leading respectively each to a said helical advancing means, and a pair of fourth circuits, having a joint lead, including a closure switch biased open, and leading in parallel respectively through said second electrically responsive means, said fourth circuits including each a trip switch biased closed, said trip switches respectively being positioned and adapted for opening tioned respectively for successive opening and successive closing, with said fourth circuit closure timed to occur shortly subsequent to the beginning of said dwell period.

' JONATHAN A. DI'CKEY. 

